Lagos — Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to sustaining economic stability and transparency as part of efforts to rebuild trust in the country’s financial system.

Speaking at the inaugural CBN Governor’s Lecture held at the Lagos Business School, Cardoso underscored credibility as the “most valuable currency” in central banking.

He recalled that upon assuming office in 2023, the bank faced a backlog of over $7 billion in verified foreign exchange obligations. Following a forensic audit, the CBN moved to clear the debt despite the challenges.

“We could not afford to ignore commitments. If we expect investors to trust us and support our economy, we must keep our promises,” Cardoso said.

Highlighting reforms under his leadership, Cardoso pointed to measures such as:

• Publishing audited external reserves
• Releasing the bank’s financial statements
• Holding live post-MPC briefings

According to him, these steps have helped restore investor confidence and strengthen market stability.

The CBN Governor urged Nigerian youths to embrace integrity, innovation, and courage in leadership, stressing that their generation holds the key to shaping the country’s economic future.

“For us at the Central Bank, credibility is everything,” he declared.